How to Stick to Goals When Willpower Fades – Simple System

Learn this simple, sustainable system & you’ll know exactly how to stick to goals & follow through successfully, even when willpower fades.

Have you ever set ambitious goals and started off with a lot of enthusiasm, only to lose motivation and give up a few weeks later? If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone.

Many people struggle to stick to their goals because they underestimate the time required, find the tasks too difficult, lose interest, or get sidetracked by other priorities.

When it starts becoming an uphill struggle and feels overwhelming, it’s easy to make excuses and give up. We think, “Well, that didn’t work – what now?”

And then we continue with the same problems and issues until we decide to come up with another plan.

So how can you get off this never-ending cycle and stick to your plans so you can reach your goals?

Fortunately, there is a proven strategy you can use to stay on track and consistently make progress towards achieving your goals.

Stay with me while you and I explore actionable steps and learn how to stick to goals and follow through on them over the long run, even when your willpower goes AWOL

1. Define a Clear, Meaningful Goal

The first step is getting clarity on what you truly want to achieve. Make sure your goal aligns with your values and priorities. Make it as specific and concise as possible, preferably including quantifiable elements like numbers and deadlines.

Most importantly, give yourself more time than you think is needed to achieve it. Most people underestimate how long it will take to accomplish big goals, so be generous with your deadline.

Let’s say you want to improve your health and fitness. First, understand precisely why you want to do this. It may be for more energy, to look and feel great, to perform better at work, or to keep up with your kids at home.

Your goal might look like this:

“By 1st September I will feel fit, healthy and energised, thriving at work and home, and weigh under 85kg.”

2. Create an Action Plan

Once your goal is clearly defined, the next step is to develop a set of specific actions to make it happen. This is the ‘sustainable system’ part of how to stick to goals without requiring a deep well of willpower and motivation.

Your goal is the “what,” and your actions are the “how.” Limit yourself to 5-10 actions to maintain focus.

Think about the most impactful actions that will move you towards your goal, and schedule them. Some actions may be measurable sub-goals with their own deadlines, while others will be ongoing habits to reinforce.

For a health and fitness goal, your actions could include:

• Research and join a local gym by a certain date.
• Schedule workouts with a personal trainer 3x a week.
• Go for a 5 km run on Sunday mornings.
• Commute to work by bike at least twice a week.
• Follow an eating window of midday to 8pm.
• Follow a nutritious, low-carb food plan.

3. Display Your Plan

I cannot stress enough how important this is…

Display your plan where you can see it daily. 

This way, you’re regularly reminded of your routine and can analyse and adjust your actions as needed. Ask yourself:

• What’s working well?
• What needs fine-tuning?

Even if your goal remains the same, your actions are flexible. Take ownership and responsibility for your plan.

4. Scheduling is Paramount

Habits are things we “do” without thinking about them – they’re part of our routine. But to get there, discipline and scheduling is essential early on because habits only become automatic after some weeks of consistent practice.

When it’s scheduled, it’s done. Scheduling isn’t “Thursday afternoon if I have time” – it’s “Thursday 2pm-3pm.” So make sure to block out specific times for key actions rather than vague commitments like “Thursday afternoon.” Treat these as important appointments in your calendar.

5. Make Your Tasks Enjoyable

You’re far more likely to stick to routines that you actually enjoy. When laying out the actions to achieve your goal, build in activities that inspire you and fit your personality.

If you enjoy your tasks, you’ll want to do them again, leading to consistency and progress. Here’s a simple technique to make your tasks enjoyable…

Consider what gives you pleasure and what feels like a chore.

If a one-hour home workout after a long workday feels like a chore, consider joining a gym and exercise in the morning before work while listening to your favourite music.

You could also consider activities like cycling groups, hiking, or playing recreational sports instead.

Experiment to find what works best for your situation. You’re far more likely to repeat something you find enjoyable.

6. Anticipate Roadblocks

Knowing the specific obstacles you may encounter based on past experience allows you to put contingencies in place. When they arise, you’ll then have a way to deal with them without feeling tempted to abandon your entire plan.

Obstacles typically fall into five categories:

1. Mental
2. Health
3. Financial
4. Logistical
5. Unforeseen

For example, a mental obstacle may be, “I don’t feel confident enough to join a gym.”

A logistical obstacle could be, “I don’t have time to exercise regularly.”

Identify obstacles before they happen, and develop strategies to overcome or work around these challenges and get back on track quickly.

For example, you could go with a supportive friend to the gym for the first few times to build confidence. Or if motivation is an issue, plan to exercise with an encouraging friend, or join a group of other people doing the same thing.

If your schedule is always packed, prioritise exercise because you know being fit and healthy improves your overall performance and well-being.

7. Embrace Imperfection  

Perfectionism is the enemy of progress and leads to inaction. This sabotages our success.

Accept that your pursuit won’t be flawless and prepare for slip-ups along the way.

Take consistent, imperfect action: stumble, fail, learn, and keep going.

See missteps as part of your plan, not ruining it. If you falter one day, don’t be hard on yourself – simply get back on track the next day.

A slip up is not failure, it’s a lesson. Learn from it and make a different decision next time. Strive for progress, not perfection.

8. Be Open to Alternative Paths

Research shows that people who keep an open mind to new opportunities tend to be “luckier” than those with a narrow focus. 

As you go along, you may identify more efficient or enjoyable paths toward your goal. Don’t be afraid to pivot your approach. The end goal can remain constant while you adapt the way you get there.

This doesn’t mean chasing every shiny object; it means you can pursue a different path if you want, as long as it aligns with your values and priorities.

And it’s okay to acknowledge that no goal is guaranteed. Sometimes we reach our goals, sometimes we miss them, and sometimes we exceed them, but you’ll always be in a better position if you have a goal and a plan.

9. Prioritise Systems Over Goals

Ultimately, having sustainable systems and habits in place is more powerful than sheer willpower. When the right routines become second nature, you’ll make consistent progress with less daily “motivation” required.

By defining a clear, meaningful target, planning your approach in detail, scheduling dedicated time, choosing enjoyable activities, anticipating obstacles, ditching perfectionism, and developing systems over time, you’ll know how to stick to your goals for the long haul.

TLDR: How to Stick to Goals

Scheduled habits and consistent, imperfect action will always move you closer to where you want to be.

1. Know what you want to achieve.
2. Figure out how to get there.
3. Have contingencies for when it goes wrong.

Now, go for it. Your days of quitting early are over – you’ve got this!